ABSTRACT
Aim: To estimate projected US-based cost and time burden for patients with myelofibrosis and anemia treated with momelotinib compared with danazol. Methods: Cost and time burden were calculated based on the transfusion status of patients in the MOMENTUM trial and estimates extracted from previous studies. Results: Reductions in transfusion associated with momelotinib are projected to result in cost and time savings compared with danazol in transfusion-dependent and transfusion-independent/requiring patients with myelofibrosis, respectively: annual medical costs ($53,143 and $46,455 per person), outpatient transfusion costs ($42,021 and $8,370 per person) and annual time savings (173 and 35 h per person). Conclusion: Fewer transfusions with momelotinib are projected to result in cost and time savings in patients with myelofibrosis and anemia compared with danazol.
Estimated cost & time savings in patients with the blood cancer myelofibrosisMyelofibrosis is a rare blood cancer often associated with bone marrow damage, too few of some types of blood cells and symptoms including tiredness, night sweating, itching and feelings of fullness and pain because of increased spleen size. Patients with anemia (too few red blood cells) may require regular blood transfusions and this is one sign that myelofibrosis is getting worse. MOMENTUM was a Phase III clinical trial showing that the drug momelotinib was safe and effective in patients with myelofibrosis who were previously treated with a type of drug called a JAK inhibitor. In particular, the trial showed that momelotinib reduced the need for transfusions compared with danazol, another drug typically used to treat patients with anemia. Based on this transfusion information from MOMENTUM and other publicly available information about estimated medical costs and patients' time spent in receiving transfusions, the analysis described here shows that a reduction in the number of transfusions with momelotinib compared with danazol is estimated to lead to cost savings as well as reduced patient time spent in transfusion-related travel, preparing and waiting for transfusions and receiving and recovering from transfusions.
